Safety device for buttonhole-sewing machines



Sept. E. B. ALLEN SAFETY DEVICE FOR BUTToNHoLE SEWING uAcHINEs Filed Feb. 14, 1928 3 sheets-Sheet 1 qu S w Y n Q) N l V E u R1 n 5w A QQ l E INVENTOR ATTORNEY sept. 16, 1930. e.. B. ALLEN 1,775,925

SAFETY DEVICE AP OR BUTTONHOBE SEWING IACHINESV Filed Feb. 14, 1928 s sheets-sheet 2 m N S S l INVENTQR Edward A/Zelz/ WITNES S' By '6 i N N fr M ATTORNEY SePt- 16, 1930. E. B. ALLEN 1,775,925

SAFETY DEVICE FOR BUTTONHOLE SEWING MACHINES Filed Feb. 14, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l N V ENTO R Edward 19A Zie/v WITNESSE BY 1 T ORNEY Patented Sept. 16, 193@ PATENT @FFICE EDWARD B. ALLEN, F NEYVTOWN, CONNECTCUT, ASSGrN-DR TO T'E SNGER MANU- FACTURING COlvIlNY, QF ELIZABETH, NE'W' JERSEY,

JERSEY CORFORATION OF NEW SAFETY DEVICE FOB BUTTCNHOLE-SEWING MACHINES Application led February 14, 1928.

rihis invention relates to buttonhole sewing machines having automatic'buttonhole sewing and cutting mechanisms, and has tor an object the provision of simpliied means i under the selective control of the operator during the operation of the sewing mechanism Jfor preventing the operation ot the buttonhole cutting mechanism at the end of a sewing period or (2) for stopping the sewing mechanism at any time during` the buttonhole sewing period, at the same time preventing the operation of the buttonhole cutting'mechanism. y

To the attainment of the ends in view there are provided (1) a manually operated device for breaking the train of connections which operates the buttonhole cutting mechanism, and (2) a manually operated trip for the stop-motion device; the two manually oper- 2o ated devices being so connected that the device or breaking the buttonhole cutting train of connections may be operated without tripping the stop-motion device, while the manual operation of the stop-motion tripping device invariably operates to break the cutting train of connections.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a buttonhole sewing machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view and Fig. 3 a rear end elevation ot the machine.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, 1 represents the bed, 2 the standard, 3 the bracket-arm and 4 the head of a buttonhole sewing machine having substantially the same constructive features as are embodied in the straight-buttonhole sewing machine disclosed in the Allen Patent No. 743,213 of November 3, 1903. Such a 4o machine has the usual stitch-forming mechanism including the needle 5 and shuttle 6 the period ot operation of which is controlled by the usual stop-motion device including t ie tilting stop-motion lever 7 which is pivoted at 8 to the frame-bracket 9. rlhe stop-motion lever 7 carries an upwardly spring-pressed plunger-pin 10 which, when the lever 7 is shifted to stopping position, Fig. 1, is first depressed by the cam 11 and then elevated by je the spring 12 as the stop-notch 13 comes into Serial No. 254,202.

register with the plunger-pin. The stopmotion lever 7 has a rigid forwardly extending arm 14 from the free end of which depends a treadle-operated rod 15 having in its side a notch 16 adapted to receive the latchlever 17.

The latch-lever 17 is fulcrumed at 18 to the under side of the bed 1 and carries an adjustable tripping point 19 which is engaged by the tripping point 20 on the usual feed-wheel 21 to stop the sewing mechanism at the end ot a buttonhole sewing operation. The latch-lever 17 is also formed with a third arm 22 which extends outwardly beyond the edge of the bed 1 in position to be engaged by the lower end 23 of the manually operated stop-motion trip-lever 24 tulcrumed at 25 on the bracket 25 and carrying the inger-piece 26 by which the lever 24 is manually operated.

The buttonhole cutting mechanism comprises the vertically reciprocating knife 27 which is actuated by the cutter-bar 28 journaled in the head 4 and connected by the link 29 to the lever 30 'tulcrumed at 31 to the arm 3 and biased by the spring 32 to raise the cutter-bar. The rear end of the lever 30 carries a screw-pin 33 which extends laterally through the vertical slot 34 in the link 35 pivoted at 36 to the front end ot the lever 37. The lever 37 is :Eulcrumed at 38 to the standard 2 and is formed at its rear end with a slot 39 entered by the lateral stud 40 fixed to the stop-motion plunger-bar 10. Pivoted at 41 on the link 35 is the latch-lever 42 formed at its upper end with a shoulder 43 which is normally held by the spring 44 in its full line position, Fig. 1, in engagement with and below the pin 33, to couple the lever 37 to the lever 30. `When in its full line position, the latch-lever 42 completes the train ot actuating connections between the stopmotion plunger-bar 10 and the cutter-bar 28.

Manually operated means are provided for breaking this train ot connections by a torward pull on the latch-lever 42 to dotted line position, Fig. 1, to prevent actuation oit the cutter-bar by the stop-motion device. Pivoted at 45 on the latch-lever 42 is the manually operated pull-bar 46 the front end ot which is formed with a linger-piece 47 and 'y invention, what I claim herein 1s i the rear end of which is formed with a slot y 48 entered by thev screw-pin 49 carried, by the lever 24. There is thus provided a lostrnotion connection between the pull-bar 46 and the lever 24; lthe slot 48 being of such length that a forward pull upon the lingerpiece 47 to break the-train of cutter-actuating connections will notactuate the lever 24 u tortripthe stop-motion device. VOn the other hand, a forward pull on the linger-piece 26 to r tripthe'stoplmotion device Vbefore a sewing operation is completed, Opera-tes through the bar 46 to shift the latch-lever 42 and break the train of cutter-actuating connections,

Thus the operator has athis disposal two finger-pieces 47 and 26 constituting selectively controlled means operable during the sew-v ing for (l) preventing the operation of the buttonhole cutting mechanism at the endetV a'sewing operation or (2) stopping the sewf ing mechanism at any time during the sewend of a sewing operation.;`

ing period and at the same time preventing the operation -of the buttonhole cutting mechanism; With this arrangement there is impossibility of thecutter being damaged by an attempted operation `.ofthe same when the work-clamp is outy of itspproper buttonhole cutting position which it'assumes at the Having thus set forth the nature .of the V1. A buttonhole sewingmachine having,

in combination, a frame including a bed fand overhanging gooseneck stitch-forming mechanism, .stop-motionmechanism including a stop-motion lever tiltable between running and stopping positions, a'buttonhole cutter, aiconnecting device above said bed between the stop-motion mechanism andbuttonhole cutter, a latch below said bedy for detaining the stop-motion'lever running position, a manually operated lever having its lower-end arranged to engage and trip said latch Jior 'release'. of the stop-motion lever, the upper end ofsaid manually operated lever `having y Y avr lost-motion connection said connecting device.

2'. A buttonhole sewing machine having, iny combination, Y stitch-forming mechanism, i stop-motion mechanism vincluding a stop-` motion lever spring-pressed to stopping position,'a buttonhole cutter, a connecting device betweenf'the stop-motion mechanism andl A buttonhole vcutter,a three-armed latch-lever havingone of its arms arranged to detain the connections between the stop-plunger -and buttonholecutter for operating `rthe latter, said train o'ffconnections"including a latchlever movable forwardly or toward the operr atorto break said train, a vertically disposed manually operatedV levermounted in rear of said latch-lever, a push-rod connecting the upper end of saijd manually operatedv lever` with said latch-lever, said push-rodhaving a lost-motion connec-tion with one of said levers, whereby the latch-lever may be moved to disconnecting'p'osition operation of the manuallyl operated lever or may be moved to ldisconnecting position independently of the manually operated lever, and means engaged by they lower end of said manually operated lever for releasing the stop-motion lever to'V stop the machine. Y l y;

In testimony whereof, I have name-to thisspeciiication; n r

\ EDWARD B. ALLEN.

Y signed my stop-motion lever infrunning position, a k feed-wheel having a trippingpOnt adapted to engage another arm of the three-armed latch-lever to release the stop-motion lever, amanually operated lever having its lowery end arranged'toengage the third arm of. the

three-armed latch-lever, and a connection between the upper end of saidmanually operated lever and said cutter connecting device 

